tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76490366468380017592016-09-07T21:31:23.911-07:00Just a Knitting MaleStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-3149014017075074122013-06-18T19:43:00.001-07:002013-06-18T19:43:16.547-07:00The Road that never ends but just keeps getting betterI have been really into knitting shawls over the last few years. Of course I don't wear them but just love making them. Lately as you know I have been knitting some Orenburg shawls. Today as I was looking at more incredible shawl designs that it hit me all of a sudden like a rock. I WILL NEVER KNIT EVERYTHING I WANT TO KNIT. Yes, there I said it out loud. Now after I have spent a few hours pouting and not believing I realized that this was the case. I mean I have looked at Shetland shawls saying I am going to knit that. Then at Estonian shawls and want to design and knit one. And knit others that are already out there. And then of course I cursed myself further by joining an Orenburg Shawl KAL given by not just a great designed but someone who has actually changed some of the way I look at shawls. She has a great historical knowledge. And there you go. Another 30 or 40 shawls and I see I will never be able to knit what I want. Yes the road never ends for this but each thing I learn and knit just makes it that much better. So there. Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-69190033313904989932013-03-24T09:51:00.001-07:002013-04-02T19:42:47.611-07:00Little Arrows - First Design<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/stuart-hoffman-designs/147700?filename=Little_Arrow_Fingerless_Mittens.pdf%22%3Edownload%20now%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a>Well, I am trying to publish my first design on Ravelry. It is not the first thing that I designed but the first that I actually took the time to write out and publish. I am still working out the kinks.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zt-_gbhdsoo/UU8tUnmYc-I/AAAAAAAAAIs/EPGeeDJQu5I/s1600/littlearrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zt-_gbhdsoo/UU8tUnmYc-I/AAAAAAAAAIs/EPGeeDJQu5I/s320/littlearrows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For the time being they are only in one size but I hope to work out a few others. I also wanted to give a big thanks to Fiona for helping me so much through this process and getting started publishing on Ravelry.<br /><br />You know making something is not that hard, but having to take the time to write it all down so someone actually understands it is something different.<br /><br />I am just test knitting these on Ravelry so if you want to test knit for me go to the "Free Pattern Test" group and let me know you want to test these. Once I am sure that the pattern is correct and written well I will offer it for free.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%22http://www.ravelry.com/dls/stuart-hoffman-designs/147700?filename=Little_Arrow_Fingerless_Mittens_1_.pdf%22%3Edownload%20now%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">Little Arrows Fingerless Mitten Download</a><br /><br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-36453162950051455222013-03-20T12:07:00.002-07:002013-03-20T12:07:23.567-07:00Orenburg lace, Neibling and other musingsWell, here we go back to the lace kick and of course ordering from on-line. I got in my set of Chiagoo Red Lace Needles.&nbsp; I also got in 2 of the three Herbert Neibling books that I ordered. I was just watching a course on Craftsy that I ordered........Well Ravelry you have done it again. Below you see the on needle beggining of the Orenburg Shawl that I am doing in Zephyr. The colour is based on what I bought on sale a while back. Orginally it was going to be a stole but with only 1200 yrds or so it is now a small square shawl. <br /><br /><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/hoffco/152920569/diamons_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="photo_image" height="240" id="photo_image_30320601" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/hoffco/152920569/diamons_medium2.jpg" width="320" /></a>&nbsp;I am loving lace work as always and more so enjoying learning. My problem is I don't like too many projects on my needles, usually 2, but have so many things I want to do. I wonder if I could just retire and have someone pay me to knit stuff. Somehow I don't think that will happen.<br /><br />I also wanted to say that I have someone that commented on a few of my blogs...WOW.....there is actually someone reading...so I don't want to say the name although it is easy to check but thanks so much. <br /><br /><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-25136765134523239522013-03-14T09:11:00.004-07:002013-03-14T09:11:48.123-07:00Fingerless and LaceWell, I am now finished my kick of fingerless Mittens. I enjoyed making them and even more so enjoy seeing them being worn, but hopefully winter is over and so goes making gloves.<br /><br />I have made the lace ones, Twined ones, Brocade stitch ones, Cable ones, and self designed lace ones.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_-PR8GSUmI/UUH0rEt_kzI/AAAAAAAAAIc/VH54rOXg3E0/s1600/Mitteny1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_-PR8GSUmI/UUH0rEt_kzI/AAAAAAAAAIc/VH54rOXg3E0/s320/Mitteny1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But now I am finished them. And of course I have now moved back into my lace knitting which is probably my favorite of all. I have been working on a cobweb lace Unst Stole in black from Sharon Millers "Heirloom Knitting". I put it aside for some winter projects but pulled it back out. It has been extremely challenging given that the lace is on both sides of work and the yarn is like thread. I think I have finally gotten the hang of it.<br /><br />But just as I started going, I got invited into a "Orenburg Lace" group on Ravelry. Yes, I will once again state the Ravelry can be the death of all things not knitting. You know how you find something, then off on a tangent you go. Well, I put aside the Unst Stole and joined an Orenburg Lace KAL. The women running it is running one in english and one in Russian. I am learning so much from her. I don't know her name but on Ravelry it is "Russian Lily".<br /><br />One of the things I am learning is how to read a "Holes" based lace chart. This is where the decreases are not on the chart and you just learn where they go instinctively based on a few rules. I am loving this. The other thing I am learning is to really learn the pattern so I don't have to go line by line on the chart. In the olden days, knitters would learn the different patterns so they could knit them from heart. Doing this seems to make the knitting that more enjoyable and their is a rhythm to it that is fantastic.<br /><br />Of course, it didn't stop there. I had to order some new lace needles, which should be here today or tomorrow. They are Chiagoo Red Lace. And then I spent hours on Ravelry, yes that scoundrel place again, and looked through hundereds of "Herbert Neibling" lace work. And of course you know what comes next.<br /><br />Yes, that's correct, ordering books of Neibling Patterns which should arrive at the end of March.<br /><br />That being said I now know what I am doing this summer.<br /><br /><br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-31093916508429895972013-01-28T19:12:00.002-08:002013-01-28T19:12:54.436-08:00Fingerless Mitts - So quickI have been knitting using the "Twinning' technique for the better part of a month. I made my son some gloves which I absolutely loved. So warm and plush. I made myself some mittens for walking my dog. And now I made my daughter some fingerless Mittens. I loved how they turned out. It was a pattern on Knitty.com called "Larus and Ardea". Very cool.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zrxIJyr3Dw/UQc9-uIa_7I/AAAAAAAAAIM/VZwFALEIB9g/s1600/Ardea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zrxIJyr3Dw/UQc9-uIa_7I/AAAAAAAAAIM/VZwFALEIB9g/s320/Ardea1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The one thing is that this type of knitting is very tight so for now I need to give my hands a break. Perhaps I will do some lever knitting. So much fun being able to use different techniques. Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-16916079686196690252013-01-09T09:57:00.003-08:002013-01-09T09:57:54.610-08:00Knitting "Twin"ingI have been searching for years for the warmest mittens I could make. This does not include "Thrum" mittens. I don't want big bulky things, but rather sleek mittens to walk my dog on the cold days. My best pair to date were my "Incredible Checkerboard" mittens from Robin Hanson. These are simple stranded mitts, where the strand creates a double layer. Actually in eastern Canada/US they are known as Double Knitting.<br /><br />While I love these and have made quite a few, they still let the wind pass through. I next tried to actually double knit (two sides at once) with Cascade on the outside and Misti Alpaca on the inside. Well, these are the softest that I have done and with no wind are extremely warm. The problem is that when the wind howls they are worse then the stranded ones.<br /><br />Given my obsessive nature to find the perfect pair, as those of you who know me know I will, I then took a class with the "Yarn Harlot" on Matawa Mittens. Now the class actually did not turn out to be about mittens but it was about Matawa. And Stephanie did bring along her Matawa mittens. These looked good and felt warm. I still can't say about the wind as I did not have them outside. So, I ordered 3 skeins of hankies from Blue Moon Fibre. They arrived a few weeks back. Now I wish I could say I have made these mittens but instead tried something else.<br /><br />I had just read about "Purl Inlay" technique in my "Principles of Knitting" book so decided I would do the outside as a regular mitten but use the Matawa for the Purl inlay. basically this is just stranding it and locking it in after every stitch on the inside. I finished one mitten. The problem though is that the Matawa has no stretch. So while it was warm and probably good against the wind, you could feel the matawa bindings and it felt terrible. I still want to make some actual Matawa linings but that is for another post.<br /><br />So, know you are thinking "I read all this, but what does this have to do about twins". Okay....Over the holidays my son was looking for a pair of gloves for me to knit. He wanted them in one colour but warm. I figured I could do stranded using the same color for warmth but then saw something new in my "Principles" book. It was a technique called "Twining". I think it is from the area of Sweden. I had seen it before but never tried it. While, I had a few weeks during the holiday so grabbed some Sublime Marino extra fine DK and sought out to make a Twined Glove. As I began to knit this I started to fall in love with the results. Plush, warm, soft, and looking like they would do great in the wind.<br /><br />I finished the pair and gave them to my son. Unfortunately this does not allow me to try them out much. So I then searched and found some new books on twining. One is called "New Twists" on Twining by Laura Farson. Wow...Anyways I have just tried making my first Twined Mitten. Actually it is a twined with a reverse stitch. Incredible. Well I am not sure about my colors, you can see below are some pictures of the outside and even better looking the inside. Also note the purl band. I want to work on my decrease ending as I like something more rounded but I am hooked on this technique. Now I am making the second and then off to some slippers from a second twining book from Laura <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2ql3bbpKZc/UO2u4XbNC0I/AAAAAAAAAHs/Hy_FmVZu-6o/s1600/Brampton-20130107-00224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2ql3bbpKZc/UO2u4XbNC0I/AAAAAAAAAHs/Hy_FmVZu-6o/s320/Brampton-20130107-00224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Below (inside of mitten)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--8GEDuW4Mxs/UO2u40CCVDI/AAAAAAAAAHw/23tUb-3dHL8/s1600/IMG-20130106-00221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--8GEDuW4Mxs/UO2u40CCVDI/AAAAAAAAAHw/23tUb-3dHL8/s320/IMG-20130106-00221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-23627841468274712832012-12-12T11:53:00.002-08:002012-12-12T11:53:41.091-08:00The Finish LineI am getting closer to finishing my Shetland Cardi. Just one more buttonband, one neck edge and get the sleeves on. And finally some duplicate stitching. Okay so maybe I am not finished.<br /><br />I am also trying to get a pair of Chipman Check mittens done as a gift for the holidays. One is done and the other should be in a few days. I am thinking of knitting in a lining and if I decide to, which I probably will, then of course neither of them are done.<br /><br />Sometimes in the past I find that I have to look for a new project but this is not one of those times. I have a million things in mind that I want to get done.<br /><br />1.) Matawa Mittens<br />2.) Matawa inlay on mittens (see how that works)<br />3.) Finish my Cobweb Shetland Stole - that will take some time especially being in black<br />4.) Socks made doing lever knitting with some great marino wool<br />5. ) Need another hat for the winter for myself<br />6.) Gloves for my son this winter<br /><br />That is just the start of the list. Finally I want to wish everyone who reads this (if any) a Happy Holiday Season, A Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah, and of course a Good NEW YEAR.<br /><br />Not sure if anyone reads this but if they do I wish you all the best in the coming year.<br /><br />P.S. If you do read this perhaps you could let me know with a quick comment just this one time. I am a bit interested to see if anyone actually is reading this.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-38416200487501962482012-11-30T21:11:00.002-08:002012-11-30T21:11:35.372-08:00Go Easy With Love<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5AmPXAxeU70/ULmQ32mjGBI/AAAAAAAAAHY/4mOTG0kvAuY/s1600/toulouseonbag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqI6XsRG3BI/ULmQvC5DerI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Rf_HmvXgs9A/s200/Toulouse+on+chair.JPG" width="195" /></a>Although there are few days that I don't wake up thinking about knitting today was one that I didn't. Today we had to say goodbye to our dear family member Toulouse.<br /><br />Toulouse was a cat that had a tremendous amount of love in his heart. His favorite thing was to jump on to your lap and push his head against you so you would rub him. His other favorite love was catching mice. I remember 16 years ago, going to pick him out with my two kids in the back seat with excitement in their eyes. They chose one of the kittens and my daughter named him "Toulouse" after the cat in the cartoon "The Aristocats". Odd name for a cat but that was what it was. The first few days my kids would hug this little kitten, and it would wriggle and get away and hide under the bureau. I would spend time to coax it out so they could hug him again. <br /><br />Over the years Toulouse was a great cat and a great family member. My son and I took him to the vet this morning to say goodbye. It was a hard day. Later on this evening my tv turned off for no reason. I turned it back on and a few minutes later it turned off again. For some reason I feel that was Toulouse saying he was still with us.<br /><br />Go easy my good friend. You were loved dearly and will be missed greatly. Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-39568890649662029212012-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:002012-11-29T08:00:36.983-08:00How you can hate something so niceAs a knitter I tend to enjoy learning new things and techniques. Like on my last post where I learnt a few things from the harlot. Well about 3 months ago I decided to join a KAL to learn how to steek a sweater. I had heard about steeking but never done it. For those who don't know this is where at some point you take a big sharp pair of scissors and proceed to cut right through your knitting, usually from top to bottom.<br /><br />I know you are thinking what sane knitter would do this, but of course it has it's purpose which I shall not go into. Anyways, the sweater is a beautiful stranded cardigan from Rowan. The KAL was going to be about 8 weeks. Well, here we are at are 10th week, and although I have come a long way, it feels to me like the end of this keeps moving farther down the road. I am spending so much time on this project to try and finish it that I will probably have to go this winter without gloves, hats or scarves.<br /><br />I am at the shoulder shaping part, trying desperately to remember my short row shaping and wrap pick ups. I have gone backwards as much as forwards and each day think that it would not be so bad to just drop it out of my car window and forget it ever happened. I am growing to hate this beautiful object.<br /><br />Of course sometimes the best projects are the ones that were hated the most during knitting. This was certainly the case with my Shetland Shawl that is now one of my favorites.So I shall not throw this out the window. I will not accidentally have it fall into my fireplace. I won't even misplace it in a garbage can on garbage day.<br /><br />No, I am going to keep moving forward. I will finish my shaping. I will block it out. I will three needle bind off the shoulders. I will seem parts of the arm. I will attach my sleeves. I will put on my ribbed bands and attach my ribbed bottoms. I will do the ribbing on the end of my sleeves. I will attach buttons. I will cut the steeks and sew them before and after. I will do the duplicate stitching.<br /><br />Yes I will do all of this and hopefully sometime before I turn 80 I will have a great looking cardigan for my wife to wear.<br /><br />Sure I will go hatless, mittenless, shawless, sockless and every other thing I could have knit in the meantime but I will move forward. Isn't that what us knitters do. At least the ones that have an unnaturaly strong pull to this art form.<br /><br />Wish me luck!Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-45394063653187708812012-11-26T19:27:00.003-08:002012-11-26T19:27:29.524-08:00A Day with the HarlotSaturday I had the lucky fortune to be able to spend a day with the Harlot. Yes, the famous and oft quoted "Yarn Harlot. I was very excited and looked forward to my day.<br /><br />The morning class was about speed knitting. I was really glad and sometimes things just happen at the right time. You see, I had been fooling around with a technique called "Lever Knitting" or "Irish Cottage Knitting". I had found this on you tube. It looked like an incredibly fast and efficient method. I was having trouble getting it so looked forward to being taught from Stephanie. I was not dissapointed and was able to learn correctly how to knit this technique. Needless to say I have spent the next 2 days knitting this style. Of course I am doing a ribbed noro striped scarf which normally would drive me crazy. Yes, I hate scarfs. Not the begginning of them you see. Just the remaining 2/3rds. That being said I am really enjoying learning this style on guess what......straight needles.<br /><br />The afternoon class was on matawa knitting. In other words knitting with silk hankies. I thought that we were going to be knitting mittens but it turns out this was not the case. Although I was not as crazy about this class in the end I did learn what I wanted. That is how to knit with silk matawa hankies.<br /><br />Throughout both classes Stephanie was well spoken, knew incredible amounts, and was very funny and entertaining. And I was able to learn to great skills with alot of other amazing tips thrown in.<br /><br />Thanks go out to UNWIND YARN HOUSE and the new owner MICHELLE for hosting such a great event. The Yarn Harlot in Newmarket.<br /><br />Can't wait to order some silk hankies and start making some mittens.<br /><br />And of course I was the only knitting male in the class. Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-43810982115660429942012-10-25T12:21:00.000-07:002012-10-25T12:21:11.602-07:00Now That's Amazing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqdmvrOC7OQ/UImOk-y0-kI/AAAAAAAAAHA/5llalr69vLU/s1600/Brampton-20121001-00196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqdmvrOC7OQ/UImOk-y0-kI/AAAAAAAAAHA/5llalr69vLU/s320/Brampton-20121001-00196.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Let me start by saying it's been quite a while since last I wrote. My apologies but it has been a very hectic year.<br /><br />Both my children are now out of the house in University so I am trying to get used to being what I guess they call an "Empty Nester". I call it "I LOVE THE CLEAN BUT MISS MY KIDS".<br /><br />Funny, while they are teens and rolling their eyes and eating you out of house and home you can't wait for them to move out. Of course when they do you wonder why you ever thought that in the first place.<br /><br />I have been very busy knitting lately and most of the year was dedicated to shawls. The two main were for my DIL and the other to a special niece. I was thrilled that my DIL actually wore hers to the wedding and there were many comments.<br /><br />I also had the extreme pleasure of attending my nieces wedding and having four people wearing estonian shawls that I had knit for them. That was really a treat.<br /><br />And of course the picture above shows my "Flying Geese" mittens that were adapted from Robin Hansons fantastic book.<br /><br />I also figure I am out of my mind as I decided to order "Cobweb" 1 ply yarn from the UK in order to do a shetland lace stole that has lace on every row. And to make it more fun the yarn is in black and I am using 1.5mm addi lace needles. You know sometimes I think I really have very little going on upstairs to try these things.<br /><br />Of course that too is on hold as I am taking a Shetland Cardigan KIL that involves steeking. I always wanted to learn how to take scissors and cut my work in half so decided this would be a good time to do it. I'll let you know how it turns out.<br /><br />Of course I am the only male in the class of about 18 females. Sometimes I wonder whether me being there changes what the course of conversation would have been. Afterall, I would think there are certain subjects that females must talk about when males are not around.<br /><br />And that brings me to my title. Last week I was at the hospital waiting for my dad to be discharged. Since I was there for about 8 hours I had brought along a simple hat that I was doing for my son. What was amazing was how many of the nurses came up one after the other to tell me how shocked and stunned they were to see a male knitting. That this was something they had not seen before. It was as if I was sitting in a room naked. And of course all would tell me how in the old days it was the men who knit but Given how young most of them were I figured "How do they know".<br /><br />Yes, here we are in the year 2012 and it is still amazing for women or men to see us guys knitting. I wonder if I was naked which would be more shocking. The naked or the knitting.<br /><br />Well, hopefully I will never find out. Hopefully for both of us. Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-27064408575370204682012-03-02T22:07:00.000-08:002012-03-02T22:07:13.688-08:00Some Days are best Left!Let me start out by saying no matter what kind of day it was, given the fact it was my daughters 20th birthday it was a great day. That being said it really was a day to be left!<br /><br />It started out with a traffic jam on the way into the office as well as an ice storm on the roads. Given I had a 2 hour drive to take my kid out for her birthday it was not a promising start. Got to work though and then got a barrage of calls. Ended up leaving late. Got out to my kid and the restaurant that she picked ended up being closed when we got there. We found another but really it was not the greatest. It was the greatest being with my kid though. Have to keep up that mantra. I then took her to the mall as I had arranged a new cell phone for her. I was really excited about this surprise. Unfortunately, in the process of getting her cell, it took 3 hours of sheer stupidness at the bell world. By the end of it my kid was almost in tears. I was upset having her standing at the kiosk for 3 hours on her birthday. Finally we got it all looked after and I took her home. Well, wouldn't you know that my cell phone died. Oh well,<br /><br />Of course on the way home we hit another traffic jam. Just what I needed. I was hungry and could only think about getting home and getting something to eat. Finally made it home but before eating I felt bad that Archie (my dog) was home all day, so I took him into this golf course for a walk. It was a great night and I thought this would calm me down.<br /><br />Well, Archie, who is always one for adventure decided right at the end of the walk to go chase a skunk. I don't have to tell you how that ended up. Basically me and Archie arrived home, stinking. I threw him in the back yard and jumped in the car to get to the pet store before it closed for some antiskunk spray. So much for eating. It was now approaching 9pm.<br /><br />Got back home and whisked Archie down to the tub in the basement where I washed him for the next hour. It helped but he still smelled. Given he follows me around the house, it so followed that I would have to sleep downstairs with him.<br /><br />Well that was the day. Of course the next morning I woke up and my TV died. Later I got yelled at by some (and I won't say what I feel) idiot. His dogs were barking in his backyard and he was upset that I happened to be in a public park walking my dog. He of course never walks his dogs which is why he was overweight (again being nice) and why his dogs bark so much.<br /><br />Well apart from another washing of Archie that was my day. Really the last 24 hours could have been left. Left out, left off. Just left.<br /><br />As for my knitting I have not been taking may pictures of my projects. I finished the Aeolian shawl but have to block it. Hopefully this weekend. I am working on another shawl with DK yarn which should be interesting. Not sure if it will be to heavy or not. It is cotton/Silk blend. Also getting ready to do another sweater.<br /><br />Finally I just received my copy of "Principles of Knitting" today. All I can say is WOW. I will talk about it in a future blog.<br /><br />Well, Happy Birthday to my kid and for me let's hope that cloud that was following above has finally moved on.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-43602790908491269702012-02-14T08:58:00.000-08:002012-02-14T08:58:11.128-08:00All for the sake of a ball?Sometimes the ability of the human mind to rationalize is astounding. Actually I mean the ability not to rationalize. Last sunday I was out walking Archie in the golf course. Now, usually he likes to carry his ball in his mouth. Given that the all is worth $5 I really take great pains to make sure we end our walk with the ball still with us. Well, this time as we got close to the end of the course, Archie took off onto the frozen ( and not frozen) pond. He has done this before. This time however, he dropped the ball in the unfrozen part. It slipped just a bit under the ice. I tried to see if he would get it since he was in the water anyways but he did not.<br /><br />Well the next morning we returned to the scene of the crime. This time I had a long stick. As we approached, I could see the bright orange ball, floating on the surface but it had moved a bit farther into the middle of the pond. Although that nagging feeling told me to not do what I was going to do next, I of course ignored it. Archie had been on the pond many times before, and sometimes he even broke through but got right out.<br /><br />This time was different though. As he got to the edge of where the water was no longer frozen, the ice cracked and his front legs slid into the water. His entire head submerged. I was freaked. Then his whole body went in. He turned to get out but the ice cracked and he could not get out. There he was in the middle of the pond, with his front paws on the ice and the rest in the water. We were isolated with no one else around.<br /><br />I thought for a second and then just acted. I got down on my belly and spread my hands and legs out. I knew this was stupid but what choice was there. I slowly inched my way closer to the opening, hoping that the ice would hold even though Archie weighs less by half and it did not hold him. I got close enough to where I could grab a hold of his collar and then heaved. He came up and out of the water. I slowly backed up and miraculously made it back to the shore. We were both soaked.<br /><br />How stupid was I that all for the sake of a $5 ball, we would try this stunt. How stubborn are we men that we refuse to let some ideas(like getting a ball back) die. Luckily we were both wet but fine. We hightailed it home and then dried off.<br /><br />Let's hope that my stupidity level does not rise that high again.<br /><br />As for knitting, I have not posted much on Ravelry but have finished quite a few projects. I hope to get some pictures.<br /><br />I finished my first double knit hat with a different pattern on the both sides, I also finished my Aeolian shawl and am just waiting to block. This is for my daughter-in-laws wedding. I also did a quick toque to replace the one I had lost, and a pair of socks.<br /><br />I am know at that point where I am not sure what I want to knit next. Hmmmn. Sometimes there are so many patterns and no time and then other times, hmmmmn. Well I guess it will come to me.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-71395924742667201692012-01-25T14:24:00.000-08:002012-01-25T14:24:51.021-08:00The Girls and Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKHeyK3tBSs/TyB_5otXtII/AAAAAAAAAG4/p3-v0g1GsXk/s1600/Newmarket-20120110-00022%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKHeyK3tBSs/TyB_5otXtII/AAAAAAAAAG4/p3-v0g1GsXk/s320/Newmarket-20120110-00022%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A few weeks back I gave a free seminar at Unwind Yarn showing the techniques to do double knitting. I want to thank the 30 plus ladies who all showed up eager to learn this new thing.<br /><br />Now just to be clear, I am not talking about stranded knitting, which in down east is also called double knitting. No, in this case we are talking about knitting both a front and back at the same time on the same needles.<br /><br />I had tried this a few times, but got the idea after it got cold walking my dog. So I decided to knit a two layer mitten. The outside layer was Cascade 220, which I figure would be fairly hardy and look good. The inside was done with Misti Alpaca worsted. This was for it's warmth and extreme softness.<br /><br />I must say I had a great time teaching this method, and the girls were all eager and fantastic to work with. Each one had success at learning this style. I have even seen a few of the ladies try their own double knit mitten.<br /><br />It's great to learn new things, and even better to share them with friends. That's what I consider all of you girls who came out. Afterall, when you spend 2 hours with people doing something you love how can you leave at the end of the night and not be friends. Thanks ladies. You always make it a pleasure to teach and I always learn something from all of you.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-30065218780557191812012-01-05T20:30:00.000-08:002012-01-05T20:30:32.171-08:00Archie and Me -<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsdjyjuOzbU/TwZ0QTdiWSI/AAAAAAAAAGo/098iDiYimss/s1600/arch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsdjyjuOzbU/TwZ0QTdiWSI/AAAAAAAAAGo/098iDiYimss/s400/arch2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>&nbsp;Who would have thought that one dog, rescued a short while ago would become such a good friend in so short a time frame. Yes that's my dog Archie. And this past few months he has certainly been up to some hi-jinx.<br /><br />It started last month after I had taken him into a forest area for a walk. Archie loves these walks cause he can run into the woods and then come out somewhere down the path and run back to me. After our walk, while we were back home, I noticed him licking at his arm. A closer look showed that he had somehow taken a good chunk of skin off.&nbsp; I quickly called the vet, and a while later, Archie had gotten himself his first set of stitches. He had 4 to be exact. Along with a bunch of pills, and a taped up arm, I was also given the "Cone of Shame". For those of you with dogs, you know that is the big plastic cone that goes over the dogs head and prevents him from getting at his wound. <br /><br />I really did not want to put this on him, so instead pledged to keep him with me at all times. The first night worked well, and the next day I took him to work. Later that day however, when I went to the washroom, he promptly took off his bandage. Of course this meant going back to the vet to have it re-wrapped. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh2ZOEh9Klc/TwZ0XzBPzyI/AAAAAAAAAGw/wPY1xCxhkhU/s1600/arch4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh2ZOEh9Klc/TwZ0XzBPzyI/AAAAAAAAAGw/wPY1xCxhkhU/s320/arch4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archie and Toulouse wondering how to get at my daughters pet rats.</td></tr></tbody></table>Again I pledged to keep him in my site, but of course later that night I awoke to the sound of Archie pulling off the second bandage. I had to face the fact that the "Cone of Shame" was the only choice. So with a sad heart I put it on him. Well, the look on his face nearly broke my heart. I don't think I have ever seen a dog look so despondent. All night long he just walked around the bedroom, bumping into things with this space sized cone, and then back over to my bed he would come. His head resting on my bed he just sighed and stared at me with the saddest eyes.<br /><br />I am please to say however, that after that night, I took the cone off and the bandage and found that without the bandage he would leave the wound alone.<br />The second problem was that he was on limited walks. This meant that after a day or two he was incredibly rangy. This multiplied each day. Well, to make a long story a bit shorter, his leg healed and I paid a fair sized vet bill.<br /><br />Now we were back in business, so off we went for a walk in the golf course. Archie, ran ahead and as I got closer so that he was scuffling with something. It looked like a large rat, but I think it was a groundhog. The two went at it for a bit before I finally got him away. As I pulled him away, I noticed that he was bleeding. The groundhog had been able to land a couple nice bites on Archie's face. Again I called the vet and again set out to have him looked at.<br /><br />As I was driving to the vet, I remembered something else. Something I forgot to tell you. You see, early that day my SO decided that she was going to pain Archie's nail a metallic Blue. Now of course I had said many times before, "please don't paint the dogs toenails". Of course you can see how much this was listened to. Now as I neared the vet I thought about how I was going to explain my big manly dog having "Blue Nail Polish". I didn't now who would be more embarassed, me or Archie. Well, in the end the wounds were not too deep and back home we went. Another large vet bill and another rehabing dog.<br /><br />Finally today, I felt that he was recovered enough to brave another walk in the golf course. I prayed that the groundhog was no longer there. And to my delight he was nowhere to be found. But of course that isn't the end of it. Archie took off running, and the next thing I know he is chasing something. Something just as fast. Yes, he had found a fox and the two were moving at quite a fast speed. My heart dropped. What next.<br /><br />Well, I don't know how the fox did it but he lost the dog and got away, Of course Archie, running through some trees had ripped his scab and was bleeding again. And off to home we went so I could clean up the wound.<br /><br />Yes, it has been an eventful few months with my dog. I do think however, we will stay away from the golf course for a few weeks.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-61121560335915155382011-12-12T12:08:00.000-08:002011-12-12T12:08:56.759-08:00Finally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VA5dNvauaB4/TuZdlblaAJI/AAAAAAAAAGc/kJGqx-meMgM/s1600/IMG-20111125-00007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VA5dNvauaB4/TuZdlblaAJI/AAAAAAAAAGc/kJGqx-meMgM/s200/IMG-20111125-00007.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I have tried for over a year to knit a pair of warm mittens for my daughter in her school colours. Last year I knit two pairs. The first were stranded and the second one used an inner and outer lining. Both times I just did a simple home made design. While she appreciated my effort on both I could tell by the look on her face that neither was something she was going to wear. Yes, sadly they would end up in the same box as the hat I made for her.<br /><br />Crushed.....well not that bad. So this year I decided that I would follow a pattern. I chose the "Salt and Pepper" mittens from Robin Hanson's book, FAVORITE MITTENS. This has been my favorite mitten book. I have knit the checkerboard and the striped mittens, so this would be my third<br /><br />It is a simple stranded project that alternates colors. This means you don't have to worry about long floats. I added a third color to match my daughter's school colors. I really liked the way they turned out and guess what. SHE DID TOO&gt;..YAHOOOOOOOOO<br /><br />I have told many people that this is a great book for mittens. The only thing is that some of the instructions are hard to get when you read them. What you have to do really is just follow what she says, word for word, stitch for stitch. When you do this it works out and then it all makes sense.<br /><br />Of course, given my success I went out and got some more school colors, eager to start knitting the "Newsprint Cowl" using the new Two color Brioche technique I just wrote about.<br /><br />And yes, you can guess, when I told her about she again rolled her eyes and said, "Dad, don't you think I have enough school color stuff". Yes, after spending another $60 I was again back at square one. She instead just wanted something in Off White.<br /><br />Oh, well, I guess someone else will just be the recipient of the new cowl.<br /><br />Kids, SHeeeshStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-22085811350385950172011-12-06T10:56:00.000-08:002011-12-06T10:56:01.000-08:00New Brioche E-VideoI was lucky to be chosen as one of a few to review a new Video E-book on Brioche Knitting. This book was done on Ravelry by "Liatm".<br /><br />I have done some basic Brioche before I had reviewed this book. Basically a flat scarf in one colour. Brioche stitch makes a fantastically plush and elastic fabric great for all sorts of things. It was with great interest that I began to review this e-book.<br /><br />First off, Liatm takes each step and illustrates the instructions with a close up and clear video. She moves slowly and explains really clearly what she wants you to do. It starts off with a cast on, and then with a set up row. She then moves into a basic stitch knit flat, and then in the round.<br /><br />The real fun begins when she introduces a second colour in the round. This makes a great looking fabric. There is also a few suggestions for patterns. Finally she ends off with knitting the stitch flat.<br /><br />I have to give this high marks in the way that she moves through each area. Perhaps the best part of the whole book, in my mind, is that she takes the time to explain how to READ your stitches on the needle.<br /><br />Many people who love Brioche, hate the fact that when they make a mistake it can be so difficult to fix it and get back on track. By showing her viewers how to READ the stitches, she solves this problem. Now you can see a mistake before it gets to the point of no return. And better yet you can fix it.<br /><br />I am just checking my stash so that I can cast on a two colour brioche hat or cowl. Can't wait to see how it goes.<br /><br />If you have ever wanted to try this great stitch then I highly recommend that you get this book. You can find it at KNITfreedom in the <a href="http://knitfreedom.com/classes/brioche" target="_blank">Brioche Videos</a> area. <br /><br />Good luck with it and thanks to Liatm for a great job.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-62130425325974516772011-10-30T20:17:00.000-07:002011-10-30T20:17:35.802-07:00Every Piece Has a StoryIt's funny how every piece that I knit seems to have it's own story. Case in point. I decided to try my hand at knitting another sweater. I have only knit one so far in my short knitting life. It was a baby sweater. It wasn't for me, obviously, but I just wanted to learn how to knit one. It turned out pretty good but I haven't knit one since. One of the main reasons is that I don't really wear sweaters. The last one I wore was one that my mom knit for me.<br /><br />Well, I finally got my SO to come with me to the LYS and pick out a pattern and some yarn. The pattern was pretty easy and I couldn't wait to get started. The first problem was that I was having a hard time getting gauge. The pattern was 6 st per inch, and suggested 4mm needles. Well I started my swatch and found that I had to go down a needle. Then another needle size and then another until I found myself knitting my swatch on 2.5 mm needles. Yes that would be fine if I was knitting a sock, but this was a sweater. How on earth could I knit a sweater on 2.5mm. Yes you guessed it, I can't. So I switched from my regular continental and tried out Portuguese knitting. This worked better although I was still on 3mm needles. So be it, if that is what it had to be then I was game.<br /><br />The pattern was pretty much all "Moss Stitch" which mostly meant a ribbing type of deal. For continental this was easy but not as much fun with&nbsp; PK. Oh well, if that is what the knitting gods wanted who was I but a mere knitting mortal to argue.<br /><br />Things went well and I finally got to the part where I was going to do a 3 needle bind off on the shoulder seams. No problem and so I went ahead and did it. The problem was that I forgot to make sure the "right sides" were facing. Yes, now I had a big seam ridge on each shoulder. Of course that would not do so I pulled out the seams, turned the pieces around and then seamed it up again. There, now that was finished. Well of course is wasn't.&nbsp; You see when I was shaping the shoulder I did not follow pattern on the last few short rows so here I had a moss stitch sweater with this ugly stockinette part near the seams. I thought about it. Who would notice. Would it really matter. Let's just keep going. And as I had these thoughts I could feel the knitting gods glaring down at me. It was like having a good angel in one ear and a bad in the other. I knew that I could not let this be. If I kept going this sweater would end up on the bottom of some drawer or closet with no friends and nowhere to go.<br /><br />So, for the second time I ripped out the seams. Then I knit back on each of the short row pieces and of course that meant three pieces. And then knit it back up in pattern. And finally seamed it all back up. Whew.....now I could move on to the border ribbing.<br /><br />Well I picked up 300 stitches around the neck line and began to rib. I could see the finish line clearly in sight. I couldn't wait as I ribbed the border with extra ferocity. I got about 1.5" of it done when I noticed there was a ridge where the border started. Hmmmn?&nbsp; I turned the piece inside out and of course you know what I saw, or rather didn't see. A ridge. So back into my ear went the good and bad people. Keep it, RIP IT OUT, Keep it, RIP IT OUT. I knew what I had to do. So once again I ripped out hours of work. I then proceeded to pick up 300 stitches, but this time on the proper side of the work. And this time there were no ridges. I have really come to hate ridges.<br /><br />So now I am almost finished the ribbing. Almost done. Yes, it seems every piece seems to have a story. Some story's are not as great. But in the end, when you look at the finished piece you know the trials and tribulations that you shared. And in someway I guess this brought us closer.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-32502690476912847872011-08-18T13:51:00.000-07:002011-08-18T13:51:13.631-07:00Couldn't Help MyselfLast time I talked about picking up a new foster dog. Well, now he is my adopted dog. I really couldn't help myself. Actually he had me from the time he sat with his rump on the back seat, his front paws on the ground with his head sticking through on the console. What a great dog. I take him everywhere and am really glad I kept him. Archie is his name. Don't remember if I said it last blog. Anyways, he really makes me happy, even if I do have to get up every morning early just to walk him Even in the winter.<br /><br />I thought I would be near the end of my sampler blanket for my daughter, but looking at it I really think I should go just a bit more. You know how you get tired of the project and then want it to end. So you talk yourself into that the blanket is large enough. And then you end it. And you are so happy until......you realize that it really was not big enough. Of course you know that before but you are so busy convincing yourself otherwise that you just pretend it's okay. Well this time I am not going to pretend. I am not going to end it yet. Nope...Bigger and bigger it goes until it really makes one great cover my daughter from head to toe and even more blanket. She is off to year 2 of University soon so I gotta get going. Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-43126448292684548702011-08-02T12:52:00.000-07:002011-08-02T12:52:52.014-07:00A New Dog and Old BlanketWell my first foster dog was adopted and his name was changed. The great thing here is that a dog went from being scheduled to be euthanized to finding a great home. Have to give credit to the lab-rescue team of ladies who do such a good job.&nbsp; I was missing have a dog again, and so on Saturday I was at Chapters looking through books on dogs when I got a call. Seems there was another dog in London in need of rescue. Now this was about a 2 hour drive and I had already made some arrangements to go to Kempenfest in Barrie. I don't think my SO was to happy when I came home from chapters with a change of plans. Anyways it took about 6 hours but today I am hanging out with my new friend Archie. What a great guy and disposition.<br /><br />I finished my Traffic Island socks and have blocked them. Now it is just the blanket I am still working on. I will probably start something else. I have a bunch of shawls in mind but we'll have to see which one and what yarn I have in my stash. There are no pictures today as Blogger or my computer seems to not want me to post any. It seems every time I try it will not bring up my files. Oh well. Sometimes I guess the sites have bad days just like we do. Congrats by the way to all who attended the sock summit. Looks like they had fun.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-88554135139651702122011-07-26T19:58:00.000-07:002011-07-26T19:58:52.070-07:00Public Knitting<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4fLQiVnmWUs/Ti99ISfcXYI/AAAAAAAAAGY/TfW-A8IiHsA/s200/IMG00194-20110718-2325.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timberline socks</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;Today I took my father to one of his doctors appointments. While I was waiting for him I brought with some socks that I was working on. It's funny because most times I seem to be very shy about knitting in public. Is it really the stigma of a guy knitting that gets to me. I am embarrased to say that it is.<br /><br />Even in the waiting room I found a corner of the room where I could work on the socks while waiting for my dad. After a while one of the girls at the front desk asked what I was knitting. I brought up my sock and we then had a great conversation about projects I was working on and how I was a bit shy to knit in public. The one girl said that she believed a guy who was not shy to show his feminine side was really one that was confident about himself.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIxNTZF92tM/Ti98yEGvbMI/AAAAAAAAAGU/I4ygogbAMHI/s1600/IMG00138-20110608-1701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIxNTZF92tM/Ti98yEGvbMI/AAAAAAAAAGU/I4ygogbAMHI/s200/IMG00138-20110608-1701.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Daughters first Sock</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Given that in fact I was shy I am not really sure what that means for me. LOL<br /><br />The first picture was a quick knit of Lucy Neatby's Timberline socks. It's the second picture (the one with the thumb) I am most proud of. The reason? Well it is the first sock that my daughter knit. I have urged her to try socks and for a while she was intimidated. That is why I was so excited that she made this one. Of course the second one is still yet to hit her needles but that is okay.<br /><br /><br />I guess being a male knitter is still a complicated matter to me even though it is something that I really love and enjoy doing. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-23376590500094588212011-07-11T09:12:00.000-07:002011-07-12T10:39:17.503-07:00Shawl Marathon finally done.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-El6zMRmtkT4/ThyGKs0Q0RI/AAAAAAAAAGM/u1qDARa0WJs/s1600/IMG00192-20110712-1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-El6zMRmtkT4/ThyGKs0Q0RI/AAAAAAAAAGM/u1qDARa0WJs/s200/IMG00192-20110712-1009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;It feels like it's been years since I finished a project. Normally I was used to doing 2 or three projects a month at a minimum, but that was before I caught the Shetland Shawl Marathon Bug. <br /><br />It is a given that I love doing lacework. Funny thing I think for a guy to say but I find it so artistic that I love the finished projects. I have done quite a few works of Estonian Lace, so awhile back started checking in on Shetand lace.<br /><br />It wasn't long before I purchased Sharon Millers Heirloom Knitting book. Wow, was it ever filled with great stitch patterns. Not so many finished patterns but I decided to try one of the easier shawls in the book.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek29wgcbpVo/ThyGRAciOTI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/J9NNOoSsRxM/s1600/IMG00193-20110712-1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek29wgcbpVo/ThyGRAciOTI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/J9NNOoSsRxM/s200/IMG00193-20110712-1009.jpg" width="200" /></a>What I didn't realize was how long this one would take me to finish. It was knit in the round, so the first thing is that you have no idea what it actually looks like while you are doing it. Scratch that, actually it looked like a big lump of knitted wool. It was only when I got to doing the edging that little by little was I able to get an idea of how it was coming along. This after over a month of knitting. The pattern was actually quite easy, and it was just the edging at first that I had to get used to. Normally I did a pick up all stitch edging, but this one worked it's way around 1 stitch at a time every other row of edging. I already spoke in a prior entry about how many stitches that took.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_j5Suy7RTs/Thsd59xAspI/AAAAAAAAAGI/zcQCQ2zf7YA/s1600/IMG00181-20110708-1704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_j5Suy7RTs/Thsd59xAspI/AAAAAAAAAGI/zcQCQ2zf7YA/s200/IMG00181-20110708-1704.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I originally had 2 skeins of Zephyr lace, but ended up going back twice more for another 2 skeins. Luckily this was available in the dye lot that I had to match. <br /><br />The shawl marathon, or at least this one is now finally over. I don't know if I am as excited on this piece as I was on others or just relieved to be done. Either way it certainly is an interesting piece. It is done in the colorway of sage green, which is hard to tell by the picture. Here you can see the edging up close. It is just finishing blocking, and I will try and get a few more pictures soon of it wrapped on something the way it was meant.<br /><br />Well, now that it is done I just have to finish my sampler blanket. In the meantime I have started a quick pair of socks for my kid. I am doing another of Lucy Neatby's socks called "Timberline Toes". A very easy quick knit. This sock has the garter short row heel. I just finished the first. I am still not convinced I like this type of heel better then the heel flap, however, it does work nice for variegated yarn. <br /><br />I also will probably end up doing another Estonian project from Nancy Bush's book. I must say that book has more projects that I like than any other book I own.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-32326086848935541962011-06-28T18:50:00.000-07:002011-06-28T18:50:16.425-07:00Savings Lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-It36G15jCTc/TgqB47LbuRI/AAAAAAAAAF8/oVqH4QJVpE8/s1600/IMG00156-20110625-2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-It36G15jCTc/TgqB47LbuRI/AAAAAAAAAF8/oVqH4QJVpE8/s200/IMG00156-20110625-2038.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>As most of you know my dog of over 13 years passed away last month. It was really weird not having a dog in the house given I have had one for over 20 years. I really wasn't ready for another big commitment, but on the other side I really missed having one around the house.<br /><br />Yes, I admit, I am a big time dog lover. I did a bit of research on the internet I came across the idea of fostering dogs. This is the taking in of dogs that have no homes and have no one yet to adopt them. You take care of them until they are able to find forever homes. I thought this was a great way to help out animals that needed help, all while being able to have a dog back in the house.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QosBDAeha8/TgqB8zv6fqI/AAAAAAAAAGA/wSTU5SyamoE/s1600/IMG00154-20110625-1455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QosBDAeha8/TgqB8zv6fqI/AAAAAAAAAGA/wSTU5SyamoE/s200/IMG00154-20110625-1455.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I checked out a few groups that foster, and signed up to the LAB-RESCUE group. It took about a week after submitting an application that I was contacted and interviewed. Yes, they said, I was a good candidate to foster, but they were going to look for a dog that was easy for my first time. <br /><br />Well, about a week later I got a call that they had a dog for me to foster. I was so excited and made arrangements to meet with them and pick up the dog a few days later. Little did I know what would be there to meet me.<br /><br />Timbit, as he is called is a 130lb Yellow Lab. I don't think I have ever seen a dog that big. He was huge. His story was that someone found him collapsed on their lawn and called animal control. They picked him up and kept him in the shelter. Given his size, if the rescue didn't step in to help he probably would have been euthanised. I don't know how he got that way but he was just huge. It was difficult for him to walk but he was just so happy to have some attention. He had bed sores on his legs, and the muscles would shake when he stood and eventually he would have to sit again.<br /><br />I got Tim in the car, and the two of us made are way home. The first time I took him for a walk we were able to get about 20 paces and then he needed to lie down and rest. This is how it went with 4 rests to get to the end of my property line, which is about 70 ft. And then of course 4 more rests to get back. Although he was filled with a ton of love, Tim is in bad shape. Who would let him get like this and then toss him away.<br /><br />In the first few days I saw that Tim loved to get into the garbage to see what he could find. Of course now it is under lock and key and I am teaching him to start to leave it alone. Not an easy job for a food minded dog.<br /><br />The first week of fostering has now passed. I have learned so much about patience and understanding. I hope Tim can find a great home, but until then I will love and care for him. Together we will slowly try to get some of the weight off so again Tim can run and play like other dogs.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-71898746611539144822011-06-16T20:56:00.000-07:002011-06-16T20:56:49.234-07:00Moving ForwardThe one thing about life is we have a choice whether to keep moving forward or to stop and just keep looking back. I have always been a big believer in the forward choice. I have been really busy these days but thought I should write a bit anyways.<br /><br />I am still working diligently on my Shetland Shawl and Sock Sampler Blankets. I don't think I have ever had a period of knitting where I worked for so long without coming to the end. That being said I am getting there. I am over half way through the edging on the shawl. Finally I can start to see how it is going to look. It has certainly taken alot more yarn then I though but hope that this last skein will do it. I figure that the edge had 800 stitches and that it required me to knit about 1600 rows to complete. Since on average each row has about 20 stitches in it the edging involves about 32,000 stitches or more. I also figure it takes about 30 minutes to complete the 24 rows in each edging repeat meaining the edge should take in all about 30 hours. Who would have thought. I just have to keep going forward and at some point I am going to get there. God, I hope that I like it when I am finished given the time.<br /><br />The sampler is coming along. My daughter laughs a bit at the colours but I am using up all my leftover sock yarn which is nice. Of course, it also means buying some more before it will be finished.<br /><br />My kid finished her first sock and was thrilled. Me too. Of course now she has the dreaded second sock syndrome.<br /><br />Finally, I have decided that I am going to become a dog foster parent. I really miss having a dog around the house and it's been about 20 years since I have been without. In the morning when I come out of my bedroom it is just so strange to not head down the stairs and a second later feel a dog, whooshing past me, racing to the bottom. And it really is weird to walk into the house and not have that friendly greeting. I think with fostering I can help out other dogs that need a home and yet not jump into a long commitment of owning a dog. I do think that will come but I think I need a bit of time. I am excited about this and am waiting for them to find me a foster dog. Feel like a kid I am so excited about that.<br /><br />It's almost exam time for my son, so I am sure he is going to be stressed this week and then starts the summer officially. At least for a parent, summer really begins when school ends.<br /><br />I'll keep you posted to what happens with my shawls and fostering. And of course whether my kid casts on her second sock. Yep, just keep moving forward and everything will be alright.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7649036646838001759.post-73946660350066347672011-05-26T19:11:00.000-07:002011-05-26T19:11:15.933-07:00A Good Friend - A Sad Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wl5M4RMEBHw/Td8Az8HVjbI/AAAAAAAAAFs/PGCYAOIU-kA/s1600/Cool+Dog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wl5M4RMEBHw/Td8Az8HVjbI/AAAAAAAAAFs/PGCYAOIU-kA/s320/Cool+Dog.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riley Chilling at the Cottage</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;Today was a tough day, and this may be a tough blog to read. For the last 13 years I have shared my life with my dog Riley. I have to thank my friend Jane for this. She played on the football team I coached, and one game said that she had rescued this dog but because she lived in an apartment really couldn't keep him.<br /><br />It seemed that this young dog had been a Christmas present to a child, but after a few months the child had got bored and no one paid any attention to this dog. She said they were keeping him in his cage almost all day long, and that they were going to just let it loose and not let it back in.<br /><br />I already had an older German Sheppard at the time and really wasn't sure I wanted another dog. Jane was unrelenting and asked me to just see him and try him over the weekend. As you can guess, from the moment I met him, I fell in love and of course took him into my home and my life. <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHvwTLGkJXQ/Td8A4VzdzyI/AAAAAAAAAFw/RXirJ__Pcm8/s1600/IMG00824-20101223-1956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHvwTLGkJXQ/Td8A4VzdzyI/AAAAAAAAAFw/RXirJ__Pcm8/s320/IMG00824-20101223-1956.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Riley</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;My Sheppard was a great dog also but was more my dog then the families dog. Riley, however was truly the families dog.<br /><br />The first few years were pretty fun as Riley loved to escape and roam free and each day I would be out trying to find him and catch him. I had a fenced in yard but no matter, Riley, doing his best Houdini impression would find some way to escape and run around. He was not trying to get away, but really just loved to meet people and walk down the street with all.<br /><br />Most time he would find a place to crawl under the fence and each time I would go into the backyard and pound down another post trying to keep him in for his own safety. I remember the one time he got away, and I was amazed because I was sure I had closed off all escape routes. After I got him back I found that last spot that he escaped from and proceeded to pound down the fence to close it off. As I did so I let him know, while he stood behind watching me, that I finally had closed off all escape routes. After pounding down the last fence post I turned triumphantly to let him know I had won, only to see nothing. Yes, he had escaped again while I had my back turned. I could only laugh. And of course at the cottage, he loved to find his way to the road so he could visit the other cottagers. He had such a gentle and friendly disposition, and a strong need to make friends with everyone. My neighbors would laugh every day as they heard me yelling his name while I walked the cottage road looking for what neighbor my dog decided to hang with on that particular day.<br /><br />Riley loved to hang at the cottage where he had to be on every boat ride, sitting at the front with the wind in his hair. We spent many years doing agility training. He was good at it but usually half way through each class he decided that he had enough exercise and would then lie down to watch the other dogs. I could coax him all day but he was done and just invited me to sit and watch . <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wtu2X5DfA6E/Td8BAgAToaI/AAAAAAAAAF0/ibU129Ac9xc/s1600/dad+and+Riley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wtu2X5DfA6E/Td8BAgAToaI/AAAAAAAAAF0/ibU129Ac9xc/s320/dad+and+Riley.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Last Moments</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A few weeks back, Riley became very lethargic and I knew something was wrong. He had already had problems with his legs as is normal with a lot of dogs his age, but this was different. He had no appetite and no energy. I took him to my vet and we saw that he had a virus. Thank god, I thought as the anti-bio tics worked after a few days and he perked up.<br /><br />Unfortunately a few days later the lethargy returned. No longer was he at my back door a thousand times a night wanting to go outside. And no longer was he at my back door a few minutes later wanting to come back in. Nor was he sitting in front of me, panting, and asking for a cookie. No, now he would just lie quietly on the floor and gaze into nothing.<br /><br />Instead of bounding and jumping while I prepared his dinner, instead he lay there and so I sat beside him feeding him by hand. He no longer had the energy to chomp through his milk bones, so instead I sat and broke them up and fed them to him little by little. We went back to the vet for tests, and his vitals had gotten worse and x-rays showed a mass in his stomach. This time no pills nor love would nurse him back to health. Riley my good friend over the last 14 years had come to his time.<br /><br />Today at noon I took my beloved pet to the vet and held him while he was put down. I choked back the tears, even though I knew he had a good life and was loved all through it. I left and by the time I got home I sobbed uncontrollably. The house seemed so empty.<br /><br />My dog Riley passed away and may he find a new place to romp. He was a great dog, and I loved him greatly. He will be missed.<br /><br />I am writing this with a heavy heart. It is the cycle of life, and it was the best decision to save him from any future pain. But it is still hard. And I know it will be a while until the vision of him lying quietly on the table leaves my head.<br /><br />I love you Riley and thank you for all the joy and happiness and laughs that you brought to my life.<br /><br />R.I.P.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01046836438503340992noreply@blogger.com0